East Coast vs. West Coast: Who Has the Best Burgers?

Shake Shack vs. In-N-Out vs. Five Guys: Who has the best burger? We sent our impartial food critic across the country to find out.

I don’t understand food rivalries. You know, the extremely loyal and almost militant devotion to a certain regional food or drink chain that seems more predicated on location than on quality.

When I moved to the West (best!) Coast, I didn’t even know that In-N-Out was a thing, for example — so it took me over a year to even try a burger. (I know — blasphemy! However, if this does redeem me, In-N-Out was the first meat I ate after giving up veganism…)

But, that said, I also hadn’t really tried Five Guys before leaving South Florida, and it took me until last month to try Shake Shack, so I can be an impartial arbiter in the debate over which region has the best fast food.

Since I have become a frequent cross-country traveler, I took it upon myself to try all of the burgers and fries I could get my hands on and report back to you, dear reader, the results of my very precise, scientific taste tests.

Here are the results:

The Competitors:

Shake Shack

A NYC-based fast food restaurant that started as a popular food cart in Madison Square Park and now boasts several always-busy brick-and-mortar locations in Manhattan.

In-N-Out

A California-based chain with a secret menu and a rabid following, which has resisted franchising to make sure that the quality remains consistent.

Five Guys

A Virginia-based chain that has since gone nationwide, recognizable for complimentary peanuts displayed around the restaurant and sometimes bags of potatoes to suggest fresh fries. (Note: I had to eat Five Guys in California, because I wasn’t taking a trip to Virginia any time soon!)

The line outside of Shake Shack in Times Square. (Kaila Prins)

The Experience

Shake Shack:

Well, we can definitely call Shake Shack and “experience.” With locations in the busiest parts of NYC, Shake Shack is basically never not busy.

I, stupidly, went to Shake Shack in Times Square (mistake number one) at dinner time (mistake number two) at the start of the holiday season (okay, seriously check my IQ). I waited on line in the cold, only to get into the restaurant, where I had to wait on another line — which felt strangely like I was back at the airport waiting in line at the TSA…

The restaurant was so crowded that there was nowhere to sit. I was elbowed several times while trying to get ketchup (and you wouldn’t believe the glares I got for simply existing in the same place that someone else wanted to be). I had to leave Shake Shack and walk several blocks to find an empty Starbucks where I could eat my meal before it got cold. (Don’t worry — I always buy a drink when I take up space at Starbucks.)

Also, and this was my own weird experience that most likely will not apply to you, but my cashier was incredibly creepy. He kept calling me “beautiful” and “sweetheart” in a not-particularly-acceptable way. I don’t know if he wanted a tip or for me to confess my undying love for him, a stranger; however, I was a little put out by the unnecessary cash-register catcalling while I ordered.

In-N-Out

Until the day I went to try it for this review, I don’t think I’ve ever been to In-N-Out without a line.

It’s a popular place, especially during peak meal times, but it helps that there are so many In-N-Outs scattered throughout the Bay. Even if you do have to wait on line, it’s definitely nothing like the line at Shake Shack, so you won’t be there for 45 minutes feeling like you’re waiting for a pat down.

Every In-N-Out that I’ve been to looks exactly the same, so you know exactly where to go and what to do as soon as you enter. As a West Coast transplant, I’m still figuring out the “secret” menu (my fiance ordered a “Flying Dutchman with no salt” and still don’t actually know what he ate), but it seems like, aside from that, the ordering process is easy. Just wait to hear your number called and get ready to eat!

Five Guys

Five Guys was, fortunately, a ghost town. I don’t think I’ve ever really waited on a long line here, except that one time back in 2008 when the line was composed of my own group of high school students, whom I had taken on a school trip. So I guess that doesn’t really count.

I don’t know what it is about the white and red color scheme here that’s so jarring, but I felt jarred. I took my meal to go, despite the fact that there were more than enough seats, just so I could rest my eyes.

But the staff was super friendly, and they gave me way more french fries than I remember ordering. All in all, it was a pretty innocuous experience.

The Buns

Shake Shack:

Shake Shack’s buns are Martin’s Potato Rolls, which are, apparently, an East Coast favorite. (Again, how did I not have any idea that these existed when I lived on the East Coast?).

The bun was soft and pillowy on top, but the inside was toasted, giving it a lovely crunch as well. The potato roll was a great choice, because it has a more complex flavor than just regular white bread.

I definitely approve of this bun, and would eat it again.

In-N-Out

In-N-Out has a solid bun. Nothing super amazing, but not flavorless either. The buns are also toasted on the bottom, which adds extra flavor, but they’re less pillowy than Shake Shack buns.

The bun is also solid because it doesn’t get soggy. It holds up, even with sauces and toppings, which is nice, because who needs to unexpectedly eat their burger with their hands?

I’ll still probably order my burgers “protein style” like I usually do, but I wouldn’t be mad if I had to eat this bun again.

Five Guys

The buns were good. Nothing special to write home about. They are made without a lot of extra chemicals — and have double the eggs of a normal burger bun, but, honestly, I found them kind of unremarkable. Also, note that they do use milk in their buns. I found this out after I ate a bite, and now will have to suffer the consequences. Fortunately, I can order a bunless burger next time, and they’ll deliver with a lettuce wrap.

The Burgers

Shake Shack:

There’s no way that this is a fast food burger. I was super impressed with this juicy, flavorful patty. It’s pretty clear to me now why people stand on lines that wrap around the block for these burgers — they’re really that good.

Apparently, they do something similar to Smashburger, where they smash the burger down, which helps it retain flavor (a process described here by Epicurious). It definitely works — this burger is nothing like the fast food burgers of our childhoods, which consisted of defrosted and reheated meat with fake grill marks.

If you get the chance to sink your teeth into Shake Shack’s burgers, you’ll be grateful that you waited in line.

In-N-Out

I know that “where’s the beef” is Wendy’s line, but I feel like I always end up asking that after I eat at In-N-Out. There is a reason why people order Double-Doubles: One patty is really not enough.

In-N-Out promotes the fact that they grind their own meat and make their own patties, but, frankly, the patties are just what you’d expect from a fast food restaurant: Flat and not particularly substantial.

Unlike what you’d expect from a fast food restaurant, however, they are flavorful. Even though you need a couple of patties to feel like you’re getting a meal, they are very tasty, and do stand up on their own, even without toppings.

Five Guys

Five Guys cooks their burgers well done, because they don’t want anyone consuming raw meat. But, unfortunately, that means the burger doesn’t have much in the taste department.

They use a “smashing” technique like Shake Shack, but, whereas Shake Shack’s burgers are immensely flavorful, Five Guys’ burgers fall flat. Literally and figuratively. The toppings are what saves this burger (as we’ll see below).

A burger from Five Guys with “everything” except mayo. (Kaila Prins)

The Toppings:

Shake Shack:

Pickles! Hooray pickles! Honestly, every burger should come with pickles, in my humble opinion. While I can’t do secret sauces for potential food allergy reasons, I was super happy with the lettuce, tomato, pickles, mustard, and ketchup that Shake Shack provided for me. (I didn’t even have to put the ketchup and mustard on myself. Thanks, Shake Shack, for saving me the work!)

In-N-Out:

The basics at In-N-Out are lettuce, tomato, onion, and “spread,” their secret sauce. Again, “secret” is bad for food allergies, so I opted for ketchup and mustard.

I would have loved more lettuce (there really wasn’t much), but at least everything tasted fresh. The onion is a fabulous addition, because it definitely elevates the flavor of the whole burger.

Five Guys:

Five Guys wins on the topping choices. If you just order “everything,” you’ll get ketchup, mayo, mustard, lettuce, pickles, tomatoes, grilled onions, and grilled mushrooms — and you’ll still have the option to add relish, onions, jalapeno peppers, green peppers, A-1 steak sauce, BBQ sauce, and hot sauce absolutely free.

I think the toppings were what saved this burger, specifically the grilled onions, mustard, and pickles. With savory, umami flavors to pick up where the burger left off, Five Guys is able to deliver a pretty interesting taste experience.

With so many free toppings, you get 250,000 different ways to order a burger. At least you’ll never get bored!

The Fries

Shake Shack:

Honestly, I am biased, because I hate crinkle fries on principle. Any fry that is more inside than outside (i.e. more mealy than crispy) is nothing I want to eat.

Oh, sure, I ate all of my fries (for science), but they’re nothing to write home about. They’re what you’d expect from crinkle fries, and if you want them to have any real flavor, you’ll need to add more salt and pepper.

I was so disappointed, because everything else about Shake Shack’s delivery was on point.

In-N-Out

I feel like we’re finding a theme with In-N-Out: Solid, but nothing to write home about. In-N-Out uses Kennebec potatoes and makes their own fries (great!) and uses 100% vegetable oil (not sure why this is a selling point?), and makes fries to order (no sogginess!).

The fries, however, were just…fries. They’re on the crispier side, which gets a thumbs up from me, but I definitely had to pour some salt and pepper on these bad boys to get them to have real flavor.

Five Guys

Five Guys proudly displays the name of their potato source of the day on the wall near the menu — and they’re not kidding around. These fries are truly potato. They taste like potato. Which means that they have a slightly different taste than you’d expect from a typical fast food fry. They’re fresher and more earthy — but don’t despair: there’s no health food here. These fries are salted like you wouldn’t believe, which means that they are definitely tasty.

I’d personally like to have more pepper on a fry like this, but that can be fixed in post.

Also, just note that if you order a “Little” fry, you’ll be getting a larger-than-normal sized order of fries. By the time you get to the “Large” fry, you’ll have enough fries to feed a party of hungry college students and still have some leftovers. (I may be exaggerating — but only slightly. They give you a LOT of fries.)

The Price:

Shake Shack:

At Shake Shack, a single hamburger patty is $4.29, but the fries are an extra $2.99. Not bad for a popular restaurant in NYC. At any other restaurant in the Big Apple with a line, you’d be looking at emptying out your bank account for a meal. Here, you get the hype without the blow to your pocketbook.

In-N-Out:

You can’t beat the price at In-N-Out: A single hamburger patty was $2.35, and fries were an additional $1.70. A cheap, solid burger? No wonder this place is so popular.

Five Guys:

At Five Guys, a hamburger is $6.39 — and that doesn’t include the fry. I ordered a regular hamburger and got an unexpected double patty though, so technically, you’re getting a really good deal, because a “Little Hamburger” (one patty) is $4.59, so you’re “saving” $1.39 by getting two patties at once.

Little Fries are an extra $2.99 and it goes up from there — but these fries are definitely tasty and worth the extra expense.

I wish I had a better picture of Five Guys’ fries, but truth be told: I ate most of them before I got them home. They were really tasty. (Kaila Prins)

The Results:

I don’t know if it’s possible to declare a true “winner,” as all of the restaurants have their winning features. Shake Shack definitely delivers the best burger; Five Guys brings the best fries; and In-N-Out has the best overall price and experience.

While you won’t be able to check out a Shake Shack without a plane ticket any time soon, you can still gloat about having an In-N-Out to those who covet it from across the country.

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